Anime’s possibilities have multiplied with the growth of digital 2D animation, both in terms of techniques available and accessibility. This industry has more tools at its disposal for more people than ever, but how did we get to this point? Who are the main people responsible for all this change? And how did they convince both industry peers and audiences that this was a valid path worth heavily investing on? That’s what we’re here to address in a very special anniversary!

The latest episode of Record of Grancrest War reunited some of the most unique artists involved in this production, so now it seems like the perfect time to recap how this misleadingly strong series has fared so far, the idiosyncratic team behind it all, and exactly who was responsible for all the eye-catching work this week.

Good evening, good afternoon and good morning ladies and gentlemen! We find ourselves at the end of another year, recalling the good and the bad times, celebrating the lack of a hangover despite a wild night out, but also struck with the fear of hanging over a toilet bowl on New Year’s Day to keep the scales balanced. Most importantly, though, it’s the time of the year where we round up the sakubuta to present the ever-growing Sakuga Bowl and…

There’s no need to hold back on the praise for this: Fate/Apocrypha #22 was the best animated episode of anime in 2017, one of the greatest outings in general terms, and a genuinely significant moment for this industry. So as much as we find the production notes format useful to provide you the important points of all the shows we cover, this time we’re offering an even more in-depth write-up about everything that made this episode so special. Enjoy!

Digital animators have been putting out some of the most impressive work anime has to offer over the last few years. Today we present you one of the leaders of a new wave within that movement, which introduces a more human element to those flashy spectacles. Meet Nakaya Onsen, who has been receiving lots of attention as one of the stars in the astounding Fate/Apocrypha #22!